Making Eid special for children

As we are in the last third of Ramadan, mums are busy preparing for a range of  festive activities that bring happiness to the hearts of their children during Eid el-Fitr, the three-day Muslim feast which comes following the end of the month of Ramadan in celebration of successfully completing such a blessed month of fasting and worship.

Celebrating Eid is something that we all look forward to, but this celebration is extra-special for children as they rejoice in the sense of togetherness with their loved ones or simply because of the delightful treats, Eidya (money gift) and new clothes that await them during Eid festivities.

It is mum’s job to make Eid memorable for their children. We have to spread excitement and joy for our children by letting them plan for the Eid activities that they love, by letting them share in festive home decorations with a bunch of colourful balloons or surprising them with toy gifts in the morning of the first day of Eid.

I asked some mums and kids on how they plan to make Eid special this year. Khaled Mohamed, 8, and his sister Dana, 6, want to celebrate Eid playing with toys of their choice.

“This year I told Mummy to get me an Iron Man toy so I can play as a superhero and she promised me she would. I will also help Mummy and my sister making moons and stars with glittering coloured paper to decorate my room,” Khaled Mohamed said.  His sister said that this Eid she wants a toy kitchen so that she can bake delicious kahk (Eid cookies) like her mother.

Heba Barakat, a 38-year-old mother of three, is not planning outings this year because of the surge in coronavirus infections.  But she decided to make it more fun for them at home.

“I’m planning to decorate the whole house myself at night with balloons, lights and Eid Mubarak (Blessed Eid) signs to see the surprised smiling faces of my children at the morning of the first day of Eid,” she said.

“Eid for children means balloons, candy and sweets. So, a ‘candy table’ is always part of my plans for celebrating Eid. I fill glass jars and plates with an assortment of brightly coloured candy and sweets. Then I let my children fill a treat bag with the candy they like,” she added.

So that children will be feeling truly happy and excited during Eid days, they should see how much Eid is important for us mums, too, and how we are preparing enthusiastically and fondly for making it a truly delightful memory for them.